Tips for driving fast on narrow country roads
The UK is famous for it's narrow country roads. Many people feel the speed limit does not represent the type of road, however the speed limit is not a target but rather some freedom to drive at a speed you deem fit without having to concentrate on your speedometer too much. In this video find out how to get the most out of these roads whilst staying safe.
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This video is created by an experienced driving instructor, please subscribe to get my latest videos as I upload them to help you pass the UK Driving Test.
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This video is a guide intended to help people who are learning to drive with a driving instructor in the UK, it is by no means a replacement for driving lessons with an appropriately qualified driving instructor.
Laws and driving rules may be different in your country. The makers of this video cannot be held liable for any consequences caused by any information that is in any way inaccurate, misleading or missing. The makers of this video are not liable for any person's driving other than their own, it is the responsibility of the person driving a vehicle to ensure they drive safely and within the law. The makers of this video are also not liable for any person failing a driving test as a result of the information provided in the video.
00:00 Speed limit
01:02 Holding the wheel
02:12 Follow the edge
03:23 See and be seen
05:04 How fast
05:57 Horses
06:25 When to brake
07:21 Narrow roads
10:29 Using passing places
12:08 Oncoming traffic
13:27 Cars close behind
14:04 Outro
1. Great socks 2. Great horse impression
Gave me a little heart attack at 3:18 lol. It felt like you hit that tractor with that photo XD
I know what you mean.
Passed a couple months now but am still coming back for engaging, informative and entertaining content. It's great stuff which doesn't always get tested at more urban centres but is still properly important. Cheers
I passed in 2005 and agree now. Trying to unlearn my bad habits I've developed over the years too!
I’m exactly the same, best driving channel on KZhead bar none 👏🏻
As someone who has had two cyclist friends killed by cars being driven too fast on country roads may I thank you for your emphasis on safety . Any idiot can drive fast , it takes good judgement to drive safely.
I'm sorry to hear that. Thank you for your kind comment.
I swear he ran into that tractor 🚗🚜🤣😂
Thank you, Richard, for the time and the energy you give us! You answered most of my questions that nobody of the experienced drivers I asked could answer me. I admire you not only as a driving instructor, but also as KZheadr and a content creator. I have a small channel (10 times smaller than yours) and I know how hard it is to crate videos with a full time job! Thank you again. You deserve your success! 💕👍
Thanks biju 🥰🥰🥰
Great timing! My instructor was just telling me today that a lot of her students were being failed recently because they were choosing to drive at 30/40mph on these rural roads and not speed up. I’m going to be driving on some rural roads next lesson, so I can practice judging when to speed up and slow down on them.
Thought the last tip for even someone who's passed to be very helpful ! Even on motorways/dual carriageways tailgating is rather dangerous, but on single carriageways and track roads with lots of bends and unexpected things tailgating becomes even more dangerous since there is much more of a need to brake, and driving slower actually does become necessary!
Hi Richard, I got really scared when driving on a narrow roads towards coming vehicles from opposite side, which leads me being super close to my left (I am driving in Australia). Does anyone else have the same problem as me 🥲🥲? Thanks Richards for your detailed & informative content!
Haha I have the same problem, I drive in India. I use the estimate-your-fit-by-placing-the-other-car-in-your-lane and keep-your-left-foot-in-the-middle tricks. It does take time wiring them to your daily driving, so fret not!
This is very common, with practise you get used to it. Look at the space, not the problem.
Failed on this part of my test in the final 10 minutes after everything was going so well! Was a National speed limit country road which was quite narrow, I felt like I was going too slow in the first place so I didn’t slow down enough when passing oncoming cars. Don’t make the same mistake I did and good luck everyone we gonna get this license !
the feeling of passing is worth failing, good luck to you 👍
Thank you for this useful video. As someone coming from mainland Europe, I had a shock coming to the UK when I saw how frustrating, stressful and dangerous driving in the UK is. I see so many vehicles with exploded side-mirrors. The roads in the UK are in a terrible state, very noisy, pot-holey, ondulating, very narrow. I absolutely hate driving in this country, but it's a necessity to use a car if you live outside of London, unfortunately.
Statistically Britain is one of the safest countries in the world for driving. Yes the state of some of the roads isn't great but if you are a capable driver there shouldn't be a problem. I live in Devon which is famous for it's single track roads with high hedges and the problem is most drivers who are not local think they are better drivers than they actually are and simply can't cope when some actual precision driving is required.
@@nigelheath7048probably cuz the nature of how dangerous the road condition itself makes most people drive safer
Thank you Richard and all the best for this new year
As someone who's doing his test soon gotta say your videos are so informative and helpful so thank you. Definitely helped many Learner drivers including myself so thank you for what you do on the channel😁
This is the perfect timing, I have a test coming up and knowing these points are amazing, especially the narrow bends on a 30
This video has helped so much on my fears on rural roads... Thankyou ever so muchhh!!! Best channel so far!!
Great videos! Driving in the UK was a nightmare for me, recently i moved to Australia and there's so much space and the roads are much wider. I still come back to those videos as a refresher and because they are really entertaining as well. Cheers, mate!
This helped loads. I've been having difficulty when approaching bends, most times I would brake when making the bend which will seem like the car is skidding off the road. I will practice this tip tomorrow on a more lonely road. Thanks for all you do!
As a new driver your video has really helped me a lot when driving in a narrow road. Thanks a lot.❤
all videos you made are excellent! appreciated!
Thank you for the video. I passed my exam in October but I still watch you videos and find them very helpful
Thank you very much bro 💖 you are a lifesaver for people like me, who don't have an experienced driver to come along for practice
Yesterday my instructor took me to drive on inner lanes in a conjested residential locality. This video helps a lot, today my task is to speed up a bit more in same location.
You are a great teacher..I am very glad that I got to hear you..my instructor is too rude ,lazy and impatient to tell even basics ..though I am too interested to learn..you are passing a lot of energy ,encouraging and inspiring…you are great soul..thanks a lot ..from India 🇮🇳
You can tell you really enjoy driving, good stuff.
Cracking video channel to refresh my driving knowhow.
i drive a 3500 and this is literal gold for helping manage small backroads
Useful driving lesson in a free video. Nice heel N toe towards the end too 🏎️
Passed my test this week. Thank you for these videos. They really helped (and still are helping).
That's great to hear, congratulations on passing!
Very informative and helpful, thank you Richard!
The closer they are the slower you go. Words I live by no matter the road. You're not the only one who can shorten that gap, mate!
you truly deserve more than 316k subs. I wish more people saw your videos. There wouldn't me so many accidents:D
Hi Richard, just want to be the latest to thank you. I passed last week and your videos have been invaluable. Keep up the great work. Still plenty for me to learn from your uploads!
That's great to hear, congratulations on passing!
Loved the mock horse sound mate.
I passed my practical driving test today 1st Attempt!!! With six minors! I don’t know what I would had done without your videos! Thank you! Thank you! God bless you for giving us so much information and being calm. Goodluck to every doing their test! Don’t forget, focus on the test, the nerves will go away with time.
That's so great to hear! Congratulations!
Passed my test last Friday with only a few minors these videos really helped! Keep doing what you are doing Richard, lots of instructors recommends your videos
That's great to hear, congratulations on passing!
Thanks Richard - another superb video.
Thanks mate, this video will be useful as I have my test in three weeks
I passed my driving test today! I wanted to say a big thank you for all your videos. They’ve honestly helped me so much. 😊
That's great news, congratulations on passing!
Excellent video. Great horse impression 🐎 👍
😄
Just passed today FIRST TIME! Honestly thank you so much for your videos, they have been such a great help! You’re amazing!
Thanks great to hear! Congratulations on passing and thank you for watching.
Love the content 💞
Thanks for making my learning experience so much more enjoyable and easier! I've got my test on the 21st, only had my first lesson on Sunday but I've got a fair few in the next week and a bit! Your videos are proving an invaluable resource, I'll let you know how I do :)
Good luck!
@@ConquerDriving Have you ever considered setting up a Patreon/KoFi account? I was looking for a way to donate to you for all the help, but I wasn't able to find any. I'd take or suggest others take lessons with your school if I were closer, but as I'm not in the area it'd be nice to be able to give something back for the great content you're producing!
I passed my test today with 1 minor. Thank you for the videos.
Congratulations on passing!
how is it i have mine in about a month and well done for only 1 minor.
@@deano6017 Thank you. All the best for your test.
Passed my test thanks to these videos!! Great stuff
Congratulations on passing!
You’ve basically taught me how to drive 😅 thank you so much!
I wish more people had this mind set. People tend to think "60 road you need to be doing 60 mate". They're the type of people that are always up your ass or harshly overtake for no reason nearly losing control around the next bend and blaming you for slowing slightly for the said bend.
The 60mph national speed limit on rural roads is freedom to drive without worrying about the limit. Not a target. We get less and less freedoms as time goes on, in my opinion taking away freedoms reduces the quality of life, I hope we keep this freedom for a long as possible.
@@ConquerDriving i agree with you.
Great video as always mate...
I'm mainly a motorcyclist, but I appreciated the information about passing horses. I've had an awful lot of thanks from horse riders, and I can usually hear them, I had initially assumed everyone knew how to pass horses. Clearly that is not the case. Last week, however, was the first time I had a horse rider make an up and down gesture with their arm as I was approaching slowly from behind. I immediately stopped of course, a good 50 yards behind but the horse had got skittish even from that. It's important to know arm signals. They had used one suggesting they were going to stop, but I had realised they wanted me to not pass.
I passed my driving test last week and I cant thank u enough.. ur vids have helped me a looot.. keep up the great work..🙏😍
That's great to hear, congratulations on passing!
Cool content, very useful because I have to drive long distances on narrow roads with my family in the back almost every week. I got my licence 20 years ago, but narrow roads always made me stressed. This video helped me a lot and I will rewatch it for sure. Thank you very much!
After all the info in this video, I started to feel that I have to give this new approach a chance and I have to say the stress of driving on narrow rural roads went down. I found myself to choose these roads just to test myself even when Motorway is available. I even enjoy the bends, and feel more focused. I found out that my problem was that I’ve let myself to get ‘chased’ into these bends with a relatively high (speed 85-90 kmh) on these types of roads by other drivers who tailgated me. Now I am braver to keep my pace and peace more :)
Love from India🇮🇳.. I am learner and your videos are helping me alot...
Hi Richard, just want to say that your videos are really helpful for learning to drive. It’s class how you teach multiple different ways on how people do things but also the best way. Thanks for the videos mate they are brilliant. Ps I mentioned you to my driving instructor and he said he met you once and you were really canny in person 👍🏻
That's really nice to hear, thank you. Is your instructor in Colchester?
@@ConquerDriving no mate, unfortunately not but he apparently met you at a driving instructor social event or something like that.
@@ConquerDriving he’s called mick schofield if that helps
Thanks for this content 🙂 I only passed my test 2 months ago and today I drove on some narrow country roads for the first time in Surrey. I wasn't brave enough to do more than 25mph and freaked out every time I saw oncoming traffic. Lots of people overtook me and a few insulted me too 😐I came to youtube in the hopes of finding some guidance and now I'm binge watching your videos 😆
I hope they help. Do the speed you can and gradually build yourself up.
I passed my driving test today .your videos is really helpful and sort out my mistakes and confusion . thanks for helping
That's great news, congratulations on passing!
@@ConquerDriving thanks u so much
hey just wanted to say that im passed my driving test today in first attempt manual,your videos gave me confidence on the road and helped me with the technique so thank you.
That's great to hear, congratulations on passing!
Another excellent video, I wish I've watched this before taking on my trip to the Peak District, my first long distance trip since passing my test. Because during my time there, I came cross a ton of narrow country roads including some super narrow one that's barely enough for two family-sized vehicles, as well as some really steep uphill/downhill roads. Although, I've managed to deal with all meeting situations including pedestrians and cyclists alike safely, but I was almost caught off-guard on a couple of occasions due to lack of knowledge & experience dealing with country roads. Therefore, I feel like if I've watched this before the trip, I would have had an easier time during my drive in the Peak District.
Fantastic horse🐴 impression at 6:11
More pov drive vids please. They are helpful. Thanks.
Love the content
Thanks instructor 👨🏫 watching from Uganda 🇺🇬 east Africa 🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬
youve made learning how to drive safely sound like im learning how to race. also great socks!
I’m American and live in a city so I’ve never encountered these kinds of rural, narrow roads. It’s crazy to think that you’re expected to do like 50mph on these narrow roads in places! Those kinds of roads would be capped at 30, maybe 40 in the US for sure. Also with the moving over across the line to get a better view when it’s clear, nope, in the States we’re taught to KEEP TO THE CENTER OF YOUR LANE, DO NOT DEVIATE UNLESS YOU’RE PASSING A SLOWER VEHICLE. It just seems crazy to go into the oncoming lane around a bend like that. But we don’t have many of these types of roads where I live so and the UK is littered with them it seems so different rules have evolved.
We have much more narrow roads here, and the line in the middle varies in length to mark out hazards, it's a hazard warning line not a lane diving line. It's not wide enough to have two separate permanent lanes on many roads. Slow down and pass oncoming cars carefully when it's narrow and try to pass on the wider sections of road. As long as you can see far then going fast is safe as you can slow down when you see someone appear in the distance. It takes skill, a lot of accelerating and a lot of breaking, you can't cruise at one speed. This is why so many enjoy a country drive.
@@ConquerDriving Ah very interesting, thanks Richard! I’m one of the few Americans it seems that still drives a manual and your videos have helped me a lot!
Amazing horse impression! 6:14
richard i absolutely love your videos, so so informative. you will put all the other instructors out of business lol 😂
Had a mini heart attack with that edit right when the tractor passed. Flying tractor AAaAA!
It did look dodgy I have to admit.
Regarding speed choice of single lane roads VS single carriageway roads. In Austria, we learned that - as you mentioned - to drive to be able to stop in the distance you see (for two lane roads). For single roads, we do learn to drive only as fast as to be able to stop within half the visible space (as the oncoming cars will need the other half for them to stop/slow down. You didn't mention this in the video, so I am wondering whether this is a thing in the UK or whether roads will always be able to accommodate spaces you can stop to let people pass...
You are amazing!🥰
good socks this video mate. Thanks to your videos and my instructor i passed, yay...
I so wish I had seen this instruction before driving England's country roads on our visit from the States 3 years ago. Before our trip, all I could find were videos of leisure drives down country roads on which there was NEVER another car. It seemed idyllic. The reality for us quite different! We found certain roads terrifying. This information would have been so helpful and spared us much angst. "Look at the space, not at the oncoming car." Great advice!
There are plenty of idyllic roads. Wales, Scotland and parts of Yorkshire are probably my favourite places to drive. I live in Essex which is usually quite busy. You can drive in parts of Scotland for a long time without seeing many other cars. The time of day matters too.
I really like your more technical videos. Could you do one about overtaking on single carriageways? It's one of the most difficult manoeuvres in driving and there are very little resources online. I think you'll do a great explanation to be fair!
Thank you. It will be a hard video for me to make as there are rarely opportunities for me to overtake on single carriageways.
Very descriptive I now understand the width of my car I’m from United States we drive our steering wheel is on the left side of the vehicle so that my right leg would be the center of the vehicle ❓
that was a very good horse impression
Hi Richard, do you have a video about these 60mph roads and speed/gearing? I’m a new driver and think I’m getting to grips with these roads and the appropriate gear/speed combos, but wondered if you’ve already made a video which covers this?
Hello Richard & all. For those of you interested, there's a 30 min Panorama documentary tomorrow Monday 17th June, 7:30pm to 8pm about the rising death rate on British roads. Here's a write-up (tried pasting the link but YT won't let me): "Cars are safer than they have ever been, so why are Britain’s roads becoming more dangerous? For the first time in a generation the fatality rate, the number of deaths per mile, is on the rise. Reporter Richard Bilton investigates the increased risks we face when we get behind the wheel and asks whether weaker policing could be to blame."
That's interesting, thank you. I guess after you have a lockdown the rate will climb again.
12:55 When you came around the corner and saw the van did you use the same technique you use in the width video where if you can fit the width of a car in the gap then it's safe to go? Sorry for long winded question. Thanks Richard
Great video as always! Can you consider making a similar one about long downhill or uphill roads as well?
This video may help kzhead.info/sun/f6x9equyiYSFiJ8/bejne.html
Now that the Highway Code has been updated it would be a good idea to discuss passing pedestrians, bikes and horses on these narrow roads where the highway code says leave 1.5m when passing.
Passed my test first try a few months ago with a lot of help from your and Ashley's videos now, but haven't really driven that much due to Uni from home (covid restrictions). Recently I've been going for drives for no real reason other than just to enjoy the drive and it's been great. The one thing that I still don't know how to handle properly is tailgating. If the conditions allow, I'm always doing exactly, if not a copule kmh over the speed limit, GPS that is (theres about a 5-10kmh diffference with the car's speedomter so in that sense I'm doing 10kmh over the limit) and I still manage to run into tailgaters. I just can't get over the feeling of " I'm slowing them down and in their way ". What can I do to help that, what mindset should I have? I've tried slowing down slightly but again that directly feeds the " I'm slowing them down" mindset so I don't know how to improve that
I'm happy to hear my videos have helped. It's important to understand you will be tailgated regularly when driving safely. It happens to me too. The key is to drive more carefully, slow down earlier and go more slowly in hazardous areas. If you can't brake hard, you can't go fast. If you go faster, they will stay behind you making it even less safe.
Good morning, thank you for informative and entertaining content. Could you please do another video on driving on a box junctions and all different types of box junctions because I'm still getting confused with them. Thank you.
Every junction is technically a box junction, the yellow box is just to emphasis that you should keep the junction clear unless waiting for oncoming traffic when turning right. The yellow box just tries to encourage people to follow this rule. This video may help kzhead.info/sun/jZuopLeyf3Ruo68/bejne.html
@@ConquerDriving thank you 😊
I think there's a bit of a myth amongst younger drivers at least that driving one handed, especially at speed is 'cool'. As you mentioned, professional motorsports drivers only take a hand off the wheel to change gear. some people think of a granny driving a car when they see somebody driving with both hands on. Many seasons of top/5th gear and f1 have shown me otherwise! Plus if you're resting your left hand on the gearstick, you'll also wear the selectors out!
Has general instruction moved to quarter-past-3 these days? I was taught ten-to-2, and threading the wheel. I still loosely adhere to that.. on country roads, moving my loose hand around the wheel in anticipation of bends, so it's a pull on that hand when I get to them, through the opposite (now loose but ready to grip) hand.
Can you do a video on eyesite driving rules and stuff like that because I have like a -15 prescription I’m short sighted and I can just about see the reg 20.5 meters away
best horse impression :)
It's hard enough as it is doing my driving lessons when i am being observed by a single-seat, twin-engine supermaneuverable Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E air defence fighter jet the whole time. It didn't even bother engaging the vulnerable target it saw. It was like watching an injured fish flailing about the water. It didn't even consider me a threat because it was too busy laughing at my complete and utter incompetence. "Petulant child", it thought to itself. "The blithering idiot can't even drive in a circle." Thanks for all the advice in the video :)
My soap, loves it
Hey Richard, I'm just learning to drive and have about 22 hours of driving experience. My Dad is currently teaching me to drive. What stage is the best to take professional lessons? Do you think at the end of my 100hrs or maybe now? Thanks in advance. 👍 You're vids are great by the way.
I recommend professional lessons from the start.
3:18 my heart popped out
excellent video as always, thanks! Btw what SEAT do you drive pal? I am getting myself an Ibiza in a week :)
This is a SEAT Leon fr 1.4 TSI 140 SC
@@ConquerDriving ah nice (Gary)!
13:54 If you can't brake hard, you can't go fast. Like that one.
"The closer you follow the slower I go" stickers on back bumpers. Kind of annoying when you're third or more in a queue leaving a good space behind the driver in front aggressively tailgating the lead car.
Nice socks, Rich! :D
Do more driving test videos
Love from Vietnam, Richard! I love your videos so much
This is so different than driving in the States.
Hey @conquerdriving.. i was wondering ..can i downshift revmatch when on a hill? I was driving the other day and was hesitant to even go down a gear.. thanks!
You certainly can.
I know I can't make a bend on a high gear or I'll lose control of the car, I know I should go for the brake before the bend and not while doing it, but I still get hesitant with the gear choice and I'm afraid of learning it the hard way. Pretend I go down a gear and I enter the bend while still pausing bite point for avoiding the "kangaroo": will those 2/3 seconds be a problem in terms of controlling the car? Since I can't down a gear very fast I always try to make that soon as possible, but what happens if I'm still pausing on the bite point as I enter the bend? Unfortunately, I'm as good at overthinkg as you are at driving. It's a constant and exhausting battle against my brain. Thank you so much for your videos, Richard. Huge help.
I recommend slowing down a bit early so you have more time to change gear and do the clutch before the bend. You may find it helps you.
Can we just talk a little about Richard’s perfect neigh. Never heard anybody emulating horse sounds so well.
Please teach us how to Drive Bycle road-,z as well l need all the pro,z /Tip,z as possible
Great video Richard... On doing a lower speed what if there is nobody behind you?
On the driving test you're expected to make the most out of the speed limit when it's safe to do so. Even if there are no cars behind.
@@ConquerDriving thanks Richard,. You are a top instructor.. 👍
@@ConquerDriving You are expected to drive at a SUITABLE speed for the conditions. A lot of country roads and even lanes are national speed limit, but it would be ridiculous to attempt to drive at that speed on large stretches of them. Always drive to the conditions.
💪💪💪👏👏👏 good man